Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-09-09
RIFLE AND REVOLVER.
CLAIM JUMPING IN THE PALMy
DAYS OF NEVADA MINING.

How Matters Were Carried on During
the Lawless Period-A Gang of Robbers
Brought to Terms-A Lucrative In
dustry.
"You people in st. Louis said an old '49er,
"know nothing of what mining boom really
Is. Here the people are greatly excited if a
mine advances 100 per cent. in value during a
month OF two, but during the palmy days of
Nevada nliiling such changes were matters of
daily occurrence, and occasioned no excite
ment at ALL If man struck ore anywhere
in n good locality he could sell out for good
price within twentyfonr hours, and without
the long negotiations which are the custom
here. But il he determined to retain the
property he had to defend it with rifle and
revolver, as he could expect no assistance
from the officers of the law.
81 was in Phoebe during 1871 and 1872 and
certainly such a lawless community was never
seen before. A few days after my arrival in
that camp witnessed an instance of the way
matters were carried on. Two American
miners had uncovered a rich vein of silver
and We're taking out rich oar by the wagon
load. Ono morning, on going to work, they
found their claim occupied by dozen foreign
crs, who refused to give up possession, and
threatened the owners with instant death if
they were in any way interfered with. An
appeal to the law was greeted with scolnful
laughter, and the miners saw themselves
about to be deprived of tho fruits of their
honest toll. When they were about to give
up in despair all attempts to recover their
property from the hands of the lawlcss rob
bers, help from an unexpected quarter ar
rived
ONE OF THE ARGONAUTS
Jack kendrick, man universally re-
spected and feared OH account of his upright
hess and determination, stepped up to them,
and ead that if they would give him one
third interest in the mine he would drive off
the robbers These terms were at once agreed
to, and without a moments delay Kentllick
sprang to the mouth of the tunnel and Or
dered those within to give up possession at
once. Throwing down their tools and draw
ing their revolvers, the whole band came
charging out, with the intention of anniLi
lating the man who presumed to interfere
with them.
"Kendrick had taken his measures well. As
soon as he spoke he sprang to the top of the
bank at the mouth of the tunnel, and. when
the claim Jumpers appeared, opened fire on
them with his Henry rifle. Seven were shot
down before they fairly cleared the tunnel.
ana the remaining five, terrified at the fate
OF their comrades, made for town at ton
speed, with Kendrick in hot pursuit, and be-
fore they found shelter three more fell before
his deadly rifle. This wholesale slaughter
struck terror into the lawless element, and
about put an end to the high handed outrares
which had previously been of almost daily
occurrence Kendrick is now one of the
most highly respected citizens of Silver City.
N NJ
A LUCRATIVE PRACTICE
zone very lucrative industry was pursued
by u number of alleged miners, which for
yearor two yielded them n handsome in
come. Whenever these gentry learned that
trade was about to be consummated. they
would come forward and set up u claim to
the property in question. No one wished
to buy mine and a lawsuit together and the
seller was obliged to purchase the pretended
claim in order to complete his sale =
This was carried on for some time until
the miners determined to put stop to it. In
one day several of these bogus claimants were
taken out of Virginia City and hanged, and
the vigilance committee gave notice that any
Ole who III future SET up q false claim to n
mine would meet like fate. This stopped all
attempts of this nature and by 1878 the reign
OF fraud and violence was about at an end
Since that time the mines have been COM
paratively quiet, but none who lived there
during the early days will ever forget the